According to the study's senior author, Stuart Phillips, "the greatest metabolic health benefits resulting from weight loss are achieved with retention of muscle and loss of fat." Although higher protein diets promote muscle retention, some proteins, like whey protein, affect MPS better than others, Phillips noted. He surmised that the amino acid leucine in whey might be the difference maker, but said more research was necessary to pinpoint the ultimate cause.

The U.S. Dairy Pavilion within the Gulfood show in Dubai was the scene of bustling activity, as U.S. dairy suppliers connected with both new and existing customers throughout the Middle East and North Africa. The Gulfood Show, held February 8-12, 2015, is the premier food and hospitality show in the region, attracting buyers, end-users and chefs. Six USDEC member companies (Agropur, James Farrell and Co., Ronald A. Chisholm, Ltd., Saputo, Sartori and TC Jacoby and Co.) exhibited together with USDEC within the U.S. Dairy Pavilion, showcasing the vast portfolio of quality U.S. cheeses, whey ingredients, milk powders, butter and more. Several additional U.S. suppliers had their own booths or used the show as a platform for one-on-one customer meetings. In total, eighteen U.S. dairy companies participated in the Gulfood show, a reflection of the U.S. dairy industry's enthusiasm to expand and strengthen ties with customers throughout the Middle East and North Africa.

160 food and beverage industry decision makers attended the USDEC Healthy Snacking seminar held in Tokyo on October 31, 2014. Speakers included confectionery R&D expert Bob Boutin of Knechtel, dairy ingredient applications expert KJ Burrington of the Wisconsin Center for Dairy Research, and local functional snacking expert and enthusiast, Dr. Kazunaga Yazawa of Waseda University. The speakers inspired attendees to expand "better for you" product lines utilizing U.S. whey and milk proteins that meet Japanese consumer lifestyles and health and wellness needs.

USDEC exhibited at the Food Ingredients Asia trade show, held October 15-17, 2014 in Jakarta, Indonesia.This is the largest ingredients show held in Southeast Asia, with approximately 80 perent of visitors from Indonesia and the remaining 20 perent from the rest of Southeast Asia. USDEC used the show as a platform to highlight what's new in the U.S. dairy industry and reinforcing the U.S. dairy industry's supply security advantages and great progress and eagerness in being a customer-centric business partner for Southeast Asia. This included introducing USDEC's new Southeast Asia representatives while also communicating the exciting cost-saving, flavor enhancing benefits of permeate. Also highlighted were the U.S. dairy industry's rising supply of whole milk powder, tight spec skim milk powder and milk proteins, alongside the wide spectrum of whey protein ingredients. In conjunction with the show, USDEC also hosted a well-attended reception at the U.S. Embassy with the participation of over 100 Southeast Asian importers and end-users. The show as well as reception proved to be an effective platform to showcase the U.S. dairy industry’s advantages and evolving product portfolio.

USDEC hosted seminars in Beijing (October 14) and Shanghai (October 16) with the theme of “New Horizons of U.S. Dairy Ingredients” reaching 110 participants, primarily R&D staff from local and multinational end-users. The seminars highlighted the United States’ expanding portfolio of attractive dairy ingredients with an emphasis on milk protein concentrates/isolates for health and wellness innovation as well as permeates as a bright prospect rising star ingredient given the cost-saving, flavor potentiating and sodium reduction benefits.